"A cup of tea or should I make a pot?" asked my lovely wife. On the second Sunday of ' stay at home ' time I thought I can offer a look at the first run at the game mechanics of my new copy of Anno Domini 1666. So with a few photos loaded and a pot of tea in reach, I present my (solo) first play of the scenario 'Death in the Tavern'.
For those not in possession of a copy (the company just finished delivery of the kickstarter) of the game, decks of cards are used to adjudicate attempts at tasks and combat. The decks are patterned on poker decks, but the suits are head,heart,cup, shoe. The cards numbered 2 though 8 plus the 2 jokers are used for testing. Red jokers are rated at a value of ten, black jokers are automatic fails, with a value of zero. If you use 4 cards that were 8's or jokers, iin any combination, you reshuffle he deck.
Since I have partially painted the factions 'King's Musketeers and 'Defenders of the Crown' I laid down D'Artangan holding the letter and Athos near by, along with two musketeers in the tavern. The French have 'blue' on their bases.
The Polish faction included three dragoons, along with Skrzetuski, Wolodyjowski and Longinus to come crashing into the tavern. The Poles have 'red' on their bases.
Both factions started with 4 cards, two from the scenario and two from the characters chosen. Each turn, the 'hand' gets two new cards, and special situations add more cards to the hand.
At the very top center of the photo you can see Wolodyjowski and two dragoons entering the Tavern. To their right are two musketeers. To the left are Athos and D'Artagnan, who has the letter. Longinus is just to the right and lower in photo than the musketeers. Skrzetuski is directly below D'Artagnan.
Wolodyjowski moved to confront Athos. Dragoon 1 moved to Musketeer 1. D'Artagnan moved to Wolodyjowskil in support of Athos, Musketeer 2 moved behind Wolodyjowski.
Longinus moved to and opened door to tavern (task with a difficulty level of 7, passed easily). Skrzetuski moved towards the door Longinus had opened.
Combat comes after action phase, which included all movement. Dragoon 1 fought Musketeer 1; Pulling a 3(head)+5(shoe)+8(head)+ skill of 1 =6. The Musketeer pulled a 3heart+5(shoe)+3(head)+skill of 1=5. This should have resulted in a couple of wounds to the musketeer, but I had made an error in valuing the reinforcing cards and killed the musketeer.
Ooops.
Longinus wound up next to musketeer 2, combat was swift---Longinus pulled an 8(heart) +2 (skill) for a ten. The Musketeer pulled a 3(cup) + skill of 1 =4. The difference in score of 6 plus the damage brought by Longinus' weapon of +2 killed off Musketeer 2.
This left the King's Musketeers with only the heroes, as both Musketeers were dead.
Wolodyjowski next moved against Athos; drawing a 2(hearts) +1 for quick slash,+ skill of 3 gave the Pole a 5. Athos drew 7 (hearts) +3 skill=10. Wolodyjowski parried the blow, his riposte did no damage.
The combat with D'Artagnan saw both he and Wolodyjowski playing red jokers (10); this meant the one point difference in scores due to Wolodyjowski's quick slash gave D'Artagnan one wound.
Obviously, Wolodyjowski as a fencer not to be trifled with!
Longinus on Musketeer 2. At the end turn 1.
Turn 2 saw more Athos versus Wolodyjowski combat being a standstill due to fencing tokens allowing parrys. Unfortunately for D'Artagnan, a reshuffle for the Poles allowed Longinus to strike with a red joker versus D'Artagnan's 2 of cups. The difference in score and damage from Longinus' weapon meant death to the plucky Frenchman.
At the end turn 2.
Since Athos is outnumbered 5 to one, and not in possession of the letter, the Defenders of the crown were the victors, scoring 4 points at this time. There were 7 alarm counters left after 2 turns and 3 character deaths.
While not completed, some of the characters were partially painted for this go round. I will post photos when the painting is complete.
Longinus, with two victories. But they did not line up!
Wolodyjowski, of the whirling blades.
Skrzetuski, who would certainly tip the balance against Athos.
Steady Athos, last man standing from the King's Musketeers.
